Brazil opens World Cup campaign against Morocco on busy Day 3
Four World Cup matches are scheduled across North America, with Brazil-Morocco the marquee fixture and off-field issues also drawing attention.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Brazil begin their 2026 World Cup run on Saturday against Morocco, the central match in a four-game slate across North America. Al Jazeera reported that the day also brings openers for Qatar, Switzerland, Haiti, Scotland, Australia and Turkiye as the expanded tournament fills out its group stage.
Al Jazeera listed the first match as Qatar against Switzerland at BC Place in Vancouver, with kickoff at noon local time, or 19:00 GMT. Brazil and Morocco meet later at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at 6 p.m. local time, or 22:00 GMT.
Haiti face Scotland at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 8 p.m. local time, which is 01:00 GMT on June 14. Australia and Turkiye start their Group D campaigns at Lumen Field in Seattle at 9 p.m. local time, or 04:00 GMT on June 14, according to Al Jazeera.
Brazil favored, but Morocco carries recent history
Opta’s tournament model, cited by Al Jazeera, gives Brazil a 57.7 percent chance to beat Morocco after 25,000 simulations. The same projections put a draw at 23.5 percent and a Morocco win at 18.8 percent.
Al Jazeera reported that Brazil and Morocco have met once at a World Cup, with Brazil winning in the 1998 group stage. Morocco won their later friendly meeting 2-1 in 2023.
Brazil have won seven of eight World Cup games against African teams, with the lone loss coming against Cameroon in 2022, according to Al Jazeera. The five-time champions have not won the tournament since 2002 and have generally gone out in the quarterfinals since then, aside from a semifinal run in 2014.
Other match projections
Opta makes Switzerland a strong favorite against Qatar, according to Al Jazeera, with a 76.0 percent win probability from 25,000 simulations. Qatar were given a 9.1 percent chance, while 14.9 percent of simulations ended level.
Qatar’s only previous meeting with Switzerland was a 1-0 friendly win in 2018, Al Jazeera reported. Akram Afif, who scored late in that match, is among nine players from that Qatar squad still in the 2026 team; Switzerland have seven players remaining from that game, including Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler.
Opta’s 10,000 simulations put Turkiye at 55.3 percent to beat Australia, with Australia at 20.5 percent and a draw at 24.1 percent, according to Al Jazeera. Turkiye won both previous meetings, friendlies in 2004, and have won all four of their World Cup matches against Asian opponents.
Scotland are also favored against Haiti, with Opta giving them a 59.0 percent chance to win after 25,000 simulations, Al Jazeera reported. Haiti were given a 19.2 percent chance and the draw 21.8 percent; the teams have not played each other before.
Off-field stories draw attention
Al Jazeera reported that US President Donald Trump did not attend the United States’ opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles, despite attending other major sporting events recently. A White House official said Trump plans to attend the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium.
FIFA said Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s opener against Panama after Canada refused his visa application, according to Al Jazeera. Partey is awaiting trial in the United Kingdom on multiple rape charges, which he denies, and FIFA said host governments decide visa and entry matters.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the US match in California rather than Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, Al Jazeera reported. Peruvian police also drew attention after video showed officers dressed as World Cup mascots during a Lima drug raid in which a suspected dealer was arrested and suspected narcotics and weapons were recovered.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.